Hello there. I'm a long time reader, first time poster. I've come to a perplexing point in my career and I'm hoping someone here can provide some insight.
Here's the breakdown:
Duty History:
Currently AGR Major, UAV Senior Pilot, Active Flight Status
Commissioned 1999
Active Duty 1999-2015
Years of Service: 16+
AGR 2015-Present (no breaks in service)
Aircraft Flown: T-37, T-38, AT-38, F-16, F-117, RQ-170, MQ-1
Currently DNIF, with no prospects of returning to flight status in the next year.
Medical History:
2009 - Neck injury flying F-16 (flight medicine documented)
2013 - C6/C7 Anterior Cervical Disc Fusion w/ Hardware
2015 - C6/C7 Posterior Laminectomy, Foraminotomy
2015 - L4/L5 Posterior Laminectomy, Foraminotomy
2015 - Diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis (spondylitis arthritis)
2016 - Scheduled for L5/S1 Anterior Lumbar Intervertebral Fusion w/Hardware
2016 - Scheduled for L5/S1 Posterior Foraminotomy
Cumulative time on convalescent leave: 9 months (3-6 more expected after next surgeries)
Medical Profile for PT test: Waist measurement only
Waivers: 2009 - Limited to Non-Ejection Seat Aircraft Only.
I have been battling with Severe Degenerative Disc Disease for many years. I now know that this is caused by Psoriatic Arthritis. A minimum of two more surgeries will be required to repair my collapsed L5/S1 disc. Throughout the process, I have never been referred to an MEB and I was accepted into the ANG as an AGR with the condition that I had and established waiver, which I did.
After reading the forums religiously, and discussing my case with a pilot in my Wing that was medically retired at 70% after having one of the surgeries I had, I am perplexed.
I cannot promote or move to another non-flying AGR job because I would not pass the 1st question in the HRO process regarding health. I am assigned to and active duty flight doctor because my unit is located on an AD base. The flight doctors have told me I should just "hang out' until I retire. They do not understand that I'm unable to move jobs easily like AD, nor do I want to spend the next three years "hanging out". My leadership has been terrific and patient with regards to taking care of my health needs. They are not pushing the issue of MEB with flight medicine.
My Questions:
1) Should I have already been sent to an MEB? (by regulation, I believe so)
2) Am I being set up for a hard fall when they finally decide to boot me out? Why the MEB delay?
3) Should I contact the MEB lawyers at Randolph?
I feel like I'm drifting in no-man's-land with no clear direction on where this is all going.
Thank you in advance,
Bandit
Here's the breakdown:
Duty History:
Currently AGR Major, UAV Senior Pilot, Active Flight Status
Commissioned 1999
Active Duty 1999-2015
Years of Service: 16+
AGR 2015-Present (no breaks in service)
Aircraft Flown: T-37, T-38, AT-38, F-16, F-117, RQ-170, MQ-1
Currently DNIF, with no prospects of returning to flight status in the next year.
Medical History:
2009 - Neck injury flying F-16 (flight medicine documented)
2013 - C6/C7 Anterior Cervical Disc Fusion w/ Hardware
2015 - C6/C7 Posterior Laminectomy, Foraminotomy
2015 - L4/L5 Posterior Laminectomy, Foraminotomy
2015 - Diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis (spondylitis arthritis)
2016 - Scheduled for L5/S1 Anterior Lumbar Intervertebral Fusion w/Hardware
2016 - Scheduled for L5/S1 Posterior Foraminotomy
Cumulative time on convalescent leave: 9 months (3-6 more expected after next surgeries)
Medical Profile for PT test: Waist measurement only
Waivers: 2009 - Limited to Non-Ejection Seat Aircraft Only.
I have been battling with Severe Degenerative Disc Disease for many years. I now know that this is caused by Psoriatic Arthritis. A minimum of two more surgeries will be required to repair my collapsed L5/S1 disc. Throughout the process, I have never been referred to an MEB and I was accepted into the ANG as an AGR with the condition that I had and established waiver, which I did.
After reading the forums religiously, and discussing my case with a pilot in my Wing that was medically retired at 70% after having one of the surgeries I had, I am perplexed.
I cannot promote or move to another non-flying AGR job because I would not pass the 1st question in the HRO process regarding health. I am assigned to and active duty flight doctor because my unit is located on an AD base. The flight doctors have told me I should just "hang out' until I retire. They do not understand that I'm unable to move jobs easily like AD, nor do I want to spend the next three years "hanging out". My leadership has been terrific and patient with regards to taking care of my health needs. They are not pushing the issue of MEB with flight medicine.
My Questions:
1) Should I have already been sent to an MEB? (by regulation, I believe so)
2) Am I being set up for a hard fall when they finally decide to boot me out? Why the MEB delay?
3) Should I contact the MEB lawyers at Randolph?
I feel like I'm drifting in no-man's-land with no clear direction on where this is all going.
Thank you in advance,
Bandit